Jackson, MS

Throughout his career, managing partner Merrida Coxwell has developed a reputation as a fierce critic of social and legal injustice. He has accepted many criminal cases that others shunned and believes in providing aggressive legal representation. He has distinguished himself in personal injury law with significant verdicts, including a $144 million product liability case and a $2.1 million civil rights case. His criminal defense work has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for over ten consecutive years and Super Lawyers of the Deep South. He is also an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for skill and ethical conduct. He represented 18 death penalty clients and successfully defended two major alleged drug conspiracies in Federal Court.

Charles M. Merkel, Jr.

For more than 40 years, Mr. Merkel has personally delivered more than 400 jury presentations in the representation of personal injury victims whose cases involved complex medical and technical injury mechanisms and causation problems. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law in June 1966, Mr. Merkel accepted an appointment under the U.S. Department of Justice Honors Program and served for 4 years in the tax division of the Department of Justice in a refund trial section, trying tax refund cases in the U.S. District Courts over a five-state area. In October 1970, Mr. Merkel returned to his native Mississippi, accepting a position with the firm of Sullivan, Dunbar & Smith. In 1973, he was involved in the formation of the firm of Holcomb, Dunbar, Connell & Merkel, where he was involved primarily in litigation until the spring of 1982, when Mr. Merkel and Mr. Cocke formed Merkel & Cocke, P.A. for the purpose of handling complex plaintiff's litigation with emphasis in medical malpractice, product liability, toxic torts, drug reactions, brain damage cases, and in general, all catastrophic personal injury cases. Mr. Merkel has received multiple jury awards ranging from $1 million to $20 million, and many more million-dollar settlements. He is active in trial lawyer activities and is a frequent lecturer on trial technique and advocacy, appearing at seminars sponsored by the Mississippi State Bar, Mississippi Association for Justice, American Board of Trial Advocates, and others. Mr. Merkel, a former college baseball player at Ole Miss, is a sports enthusiast and lifelong Ole Miss and NY Yankees fan. He enjoys playing golf and traveling with his wife and children, and is an avid duck hunter and outdoorsman.

Charles M. Merkel, III

Charles M. Merkel, III was born and raised in Clarksdale, MS. He attended the University of Mississippi for his undergraduate and law degrees, graduating with honors both times. While at Ole’ Miss as an undergraduate, he was awarded the Taylor Medal for English; this is the University’s highest academic honor, awarded to fewer than 1% of the student body. Upon graduation, he received the coveted position as a judicial law clerk for US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division. Mr. Merkel joined Merkel & Cocke, P.A. in 2002, where he works with clients who have sustained serious injuries because of negligence, medical malpractice and defective products. Mr. Merkel is a former board member of North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, and a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church. He is an avid outdoorsman and hunter, and spends his free time with his family.

John F. Hawkins

John is the principal of Hawkins Law, P.C. in Jackson and has been fighting for the rights of injured people, victims of abuse and neglect, and small businesses since graduating from law school in 1993. John works hard and cares deeply for his clients.

Rogen K. Chhabra is a founding partner of Chhabra, Gibbs & Gustavis, P.A., leading the workers' compensation department. He has been admitted to practice in all Mississippi State and Federal courts, and has received multiple awards including the Law-Related Public Education Award and Lawyer of the Year. He also coaches mock trial teams.

Robert L. Gibbs

Robert L. Gibbs is an accomplished trial attorney whose practice emphasizes mass tort litigation, business litigation, product liability and alternative dispute resolution. He is a Senior Partner at Gibbs Travis PLLC, previously serving for seven years as a Circuit Judge. He has received numerous honors for legal acumen and practice excellence, including Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Thurgood Marshall Judge Award, and Super Lawyers' Top 50 in Mississippi. He is a former President of The Mississippi Bar and the Bar Association of the Fifth Circuit, and was inducted into the University of Mississippi’s Law Alumni Hall of Fame in 2024.

John D. Giddens

John D. Giddens is the founding member of Giddens Law Firm, P.A., established in 1999. He is a personal injury lawyer and victim's rights advocate in Jackson, Mississippi, with over 30 years of experience. He has extensive experience in medical malpractice, premises liability, product liability, and personal injury cases, having secured multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. He is a member of the American Association for Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group and has received numerous awards including Best Lawyers in America, Mid-South Super Lawyers, and an AV-Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.